Anglesea is the largest surf life saving club in Victoria, bursting to capacity with over 1000 members.
For many Aussie adolescents, summer is a time for sun, sea and surf. Time to hang out with your mates on long hot days, show off your tan and, if you’re lucky, lose yourself in some summer lovin’. For others, the beach is a haven, offering time-out from family or personal troubles.
Many teenagers wouldn’t be seen dead in a sun hat, long sleeve top and zinc cream, enjoying the beach alongside mums and dads, kids and tourists. But in Anglesea they do. And they do so proudly.
It wasn’t always like that. “A lot of teenagers who had been in our junior nippers program disappeared once they got to 14 years of age because there was no program for them to go to”, explains Pam Wood from the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club.
"They felt disconnected to the club and its members and we would have trouble getting them back as seniors. We had to work out how to engage them and make them feel valued.”
Pam created the Youth Involvement Program (YIPs), which fills the gap for these teenagers (aged 14–17 years). The program is based on a system of reward points – the more the young people do around the club, the more points they accrue.
"They get points for just about anything at the club, from helping the nippers to cleaning up. We want the kids to feel so comfortable here that by the time they are 18 they want to stay.”
Once they reach 'Bronze' level they receive a white polo shirt with the Anglesea logo on it; 'Silver' level is represented by a bottle green fleecy vest with logo; and the much prized 'Gold' level gives them an all-weather fleecy jacket with their name embroidered on it and the logo. “These items are distinctive around the club and carry a certain status”, says Pam.
A base level of entry for life saving requires patrol work. “A lot of the kids thought patrolling was boring until we allocated points to it. As well as getting more points they learn how valuable their participation is to the club and to the community. We now have over 120 teenagers patrolling the beach. The surf club is seen as the place to be.”
"It’s wonderful to see the 17-year-olds playing with little nippers in the surf. They are such wonderful role models. The nippers adore them. They also get to create relationships with the older club members. Being involved really is a great way to stay physically and mentally healthy."
The YIPs who reach gold level are also included on the honour board alongside life members, Australian champions and others who have contributed to the history of the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club, where they will be recognised forever.
The club has an inspirational history. It formed in 1952 with 30 members and is now the largest surf life saving club in Victoria, bursting to capacity with over 1000 members. It has a record of producing Australian and Victorian champions and finalists, and a commitment to supporting and developing members, not just as life savers but as upstanding citizens as well.
Pam reveals why she thinks the club is so successful: “Everyone here is totally dedicated to helping other people. The life savers are constantly looking out to help any one who needs it. The committee members work tirelessly to keep the club going and to provide a community service. The young people train enormously hard to compete and represent the club so proudly. We have developed life-long friendships and enjoy an enormous sense of pride belonging to the club”.
Like many successful sporting clubs, a big challenge for Anglesea is managing its growing popularity with the desire to retain its sense of family and community.
“We have 700 nipper parents. How do you keep in touch with all of them so that they feel connected to the club? How do you keep a club open to all and not exclusive? How do we resource all the demands and how do we continue to grow when we have limited infrastructure? These are our next challenges, but they are good challenges to have,” Pam says.
The Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club clearly sees its role as providing a service that is highly respected and allows the community to feel safe. Early morning swimmers and surfers who are club members even scan the beach for rubbish before anyone else gets there. Club rooms are donated free to other groups so they can run fundraisers, and life savers are provided to schools running 'beach days'.
“We had a group of Iranian women who wanted to learn about the beach, so we made sure we got women instructors and women life savers on board to make it happen. We do our best to accommodate community needs”, Pam explains.
The club clearly plays a big part in the lives of holiday-makers, who firmly attach themselves to their favourite spot. During the summer months, when the community swells, the club performs up to 20 surf rescues and 800 preventative actions. It’s also a time when long-lasting friendships develop between local Anglesea YIPs and their 'summer mates'.
Holiday-makers and Anglesea residents can rest assured – their safety on the beach couldn’t be in better hands.
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A Rescue for Puberty Blues – Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club
More Information
To contact the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club go to www.angleseaslsc.org.au/